Wednesday, February 6, 2019

I love a bargain when I see it, and since I own and read on my Kindle Voyage every single day, I've become addicted to several websites that I have used to download free ebooks from Amazon, in particular. Naturally, there are many other sources that one can utilize nowadays. Things have changed a lot over the past couple of years.

I once made a video (no longer available) and wrote a post about getting free books but I will admit that I haven't used any of those sites for quite some time. For example, I stopped using Project Gutenberg some years ago because I find that I am no longer attracted to the idea of reading classic literature. It's much too stuffy for me.

Another thing that happened is that my enthusiasm about NetGalley kind of faded away, too. I know that it's one of the greatest options that readers have when it comes to borrowing newly released books or ARCs, but I've lost my interest in it.
I have to admit, I do not like being told to upload a review by a certain date. I have my own pace when it comes to reading, and what that means is that I will usually burn through an erotica novel in one night and will take my sweet time with a Jeffrey Eugenides novel (even a month). That happens because one genre is so different from the other. Erotica is fast food whereas quality contemporary lit can only be compared to gourmet cuisine.

One thing I haven't tried yet is reading on my iPhone or MacBook. I have both of these gadgets but I do not own an iPad, but I've heard that it's great for reading. However, I somehow doubt that it's better than my Kindle, at least when it comes to the display. There are plenty of free Kindle and Apple books out there today, though, and that's what appeals most to me.

Besides, when it comes to erotica, most books are series. It figures that I don't want to spend my money on the first novel from a series and then realize that I don't like the author's style or I can't relate to the characters.
If I pay for the first book, I will have effectively wasted my money if I don't like it. Some sites offer links to free Kindle books by genre, which is something rather unique. Back in the day, I used to use Instafreebie (now Prolific Works) to check out their weekly featured giveaways, but there aren't any particular categories when it comes to the downloads. For example, as I am writing this, you can get free books in interracial romance, contemporary romance, mystery & thriller, and clean science fiction. But where's the rest? Where's the historical fiction? Where's the non-fiction? Surely you see what I mean.

While some might think that I'm cheap because I love free Kindle books, the truth is that not all people have the money to pay for them, and using piracy instead is plain wrong and never an option I could ever support. In my older article, I talked about how you can be a little creative when it comes to getting free books, and if you're a convincing 'stalker' of an author, you can get in touch with them via Twitter (or some other social media network) and ask them for a review copy in return for your undying support and appreciation. This works best if you have a book blog, of course, since you can provide them with a link, too.

I'd like to end by saying that it's not impossible to get free ebooks, especially nowadays. It's a wonderful way of making sure that what you're going to get hooked on actually deserves your interest. Surely a series like A Game of Thrones would get you hooked right from the beginning, but one like Fifty Shades of Gray?... I think not.

By the way, did you hear that E.L. James is about to publish a new book? I hope this time around, her main female character doesn't talk to 'her inner goddess' as much as Anastasia Steele used to (because that... that made me go absolutely crazy!).

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Like I said in one of my recent posts, I would start publishing buying guides for pretty much anything book-related. Today, I’m coming at you with a post on getting the best bang for the buck when you’re in the market for the best pens for coloring books. I know that it can be challenging getting the right ones, so that’s why I’m here - I’ll give you my advice since I’ve been researching book stuff topics for years and years now.

I made a list of factors that you ought to mull over to make sure that you’re purchasing just what you need. Keep in mind that the definition of ‘pens’ differs largely from one product to the other and that some people like markers, crayons, or something else, so the diversity might baffle you.

Types of colored pens

There are several kinds of pens for coloring books out there. First, we have the fountain pen, which is slowly but surely becoming obsolete, and that’s because it is difficult to control, it can be expensive, but it does provide flexibility and smooth application. Unfortunately, changing or replacing the ink is anything but hassle-free, so given the array of cons to this option, it might not be the right one to take into account.

Next, we have the ballpoint pen, which is typically affordable, has a good ink life, and requires little to no maintenance. It might not give you the same amount of freedom with regard to the application, and if you don’t use it for a while, the ink can become blobby or sticky.
Fiber tip pens have excellent color output and another advantage is that the ink dries a lot faster than with other pens. However, you might notice that you’ll go through the ink rather quickly.

Gel ink pens are also rather popular because they offer benefits such as a powerful color output, smooth color application, and very little effort when they’re used. However, they also run out of ink rather fast and they might not provide that much flexibility.

I know that a pen isn’t the same as a pencil, but people who like coloring books might appreciate the second instead of the first strictly because you can use an eraser for times when you went outside the pattern, for example.

Colors

You should have a pen for each color because that’s the only way that you can make sure that they are accurate. You can’t blend them as you would if you were to paint, for example. Some types come in rather wide ranges of color selections, but with others, you’ll notice that the selection is somewhat limited. Water-based pens come in fewer colors compared to their gel-based counterparts, for example.

Ink type

Probably the most important aspect that you have to consider when you’re in the market for colored pens for coloring books is the fact that the color should not bleed through the paper and get on the other side. Cheaper coloring books usually come with patterns on both sides of the paper, so the last thing you might want to do would be to ruin the next pattern because of a cheap or poorly made pen.

Each type of ink has pros and cons in this respect. For example, gel ink can bleed through paper but it provides deep and intense colors. Oil-based ink is prone to bubbling, but it dries somewhat quickly. Water-based ink takes a long time to dry, and the colors might not be extremely deep or precise.

The ink does matter, it’s true, but the quality of your coloring book does, as well. If it’s cheaply made, the paper will be thin, and so regardless of how carefully you apply the colors, it will bleed and get to the other side, thereby ruining a pattern.

Final advice

If you’re having a hard time telling which product you ought to spend your cents on, perhaps you should go through some reviews of pens for coloring books. Other people, who decide to relax and spend their spare time in the same way you do can assist you when it comes to finding out whether the ink bleeds, whether you can go through the ink quickly, or any other aspect you might need to find out.

Sometimes, it makes more sense to invest in a set rather than getting individual pens separately. You get a lot more colors and therefore, you have the opportunity to express your creativity in an effective manner.

Monday, January 21, 2019

Hi! This is a new post from my series of guides for people who love reading. In today’s ‘episode’, I’ll show you a couple of tips on how you can find the perfect book for a 20-year-old. It can be tricky navigating through all of the books available for sale these days, and if you don’t know the person you’re planning to give a gift to, it can be even trickier. Here’s what you should consider if you want to get a good book for a 20-year-old.

Find out as much as you can about that person
As much of a cliche as it might sound, this is the first thing you have to do. You definitely wouldn’t enjoy receiving a book that offends you or that you have zero intention on reading, right? The point here is that you should get a book that actually has a chance of being read, both for the sake of the book and for the sake of the person that got it as a gift.

If you’re a close friend of that person or if he or she is a family member, you’re probably already aware of what they’re passionate about. Don’t just think that someone who doesn’t enjoy reading will take it up just like that - it isn’t true. However, you could start by analyzing that gift recipient’s tastes and preferences.

I’m going to give you an example to make things a bit easier. Let’s say you’re trying to get a book for your brother. What does your brother enjoy to do in his spare time? Does he like DIY-ing? Does he like fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, or any other type of outdoor activity? Does he like humor?

If you take the time to answer these questions, you’ll find out what type of book you can consider. For example, for DIY people, you could get them a book on home repair and improvement, homemade products, DIY solar power, car repair, wood pallet projects, or anything else. For those who like fishing, a book on several species or techniques could be a good choice, but don’t underestimate those that are collections of fishing stories, either. For people who like to laugh, nothing’s better than a book in the humor category, for example.

20 is a difficult ageThere are a lot of challenges to overcome when you’re 20, and a practical book such as one on making smart financial decisions could be the right way of going about things. While they are in their 20s, many people make bad money mistakes - whether it’s ruining their credit, too many credit cards, too many bank accounts - whatever it is that has gone through your mind, one of them has to be it.

If you’re the parent of a 20-year-old, choosing a book like The Financial Diet (which is very easy to read even for someone who is bad at math or making financial decisions) can both be a good thing for your son or daughter, but it can also put your mind at ease.

Format

Another aspect that you ought to consider is the fact that not all books are the same. Just like some are paperbacks and hardbacks, there’s also the option of you choosing the electronic version (the e-book). Sure, that might not be so glamorous since you won’t be able to hand the book to the gift recipient - but still, if you know for sure that the 20-year-old you’re getting it for doesn’t have any physical copies and is maybe trying not to buy printed books just to be eco-friendly, an e-book might be a logical choice.

Genre

This is pretty tricky. If you don’t know that much about the person, you’ll have to do a bit of investigating - ask his or her friends to find out what genre he likes. Keep in mind that there are people who like to read non-fiction (such as The Financial Diet book we’ve mentioned before), but there are others that only read fiction and can’t stand non-fiction, no matter how well it might be written.

I used to be like that. When I was in my 20s, I loved reading mysteries and thrillers, but also memoirs and contemporary lit. I never even thought that I’d get to the point where I’d start to enjoy reading non-fiction. And guess what? It did happen, but once I was past the age of 29. I made the mistake of starting my ‘non-fiction journey’ with one of Seth Godin’s books, and since I wasn’t even in the same industry at that time and it seemed like his book was an endless repetition of whatever he said in the first chapter, I gave up the whole genre.

Much later on, when I came across Mindset: Changing The Way You think to Fulfil Your Potential by Carol Dweck, I understood that not all non-fiction books are the same. Some can actually help you.

So, what does this 20-year-old usually read?

So, there you have it. Here are my two cents on how you can pick a great book for a 20-year-old. If you liked this post, consider sharing it with your friends.

Saturday, January 19, 2019

I don't usually review products for children, both because they are not in the niche of this particular website and because I personally have used few of them over time. However, I did want to showcase this one because it seems pretty remarkable to me, despite being released rather recently.
The Densters Large Set is a short collection of toy monsters designed for children, as well as adults, and it comes with as many as eight versatile and whimsical characters. With their assistance, you can build the inside of a hide-away or that of a fort.

Versatility

One of the coolest thing that I have found about these toys is that they can be used for a variety of purposes. You really do not have to be a kid to be able to enjoy them. In fact, I couldn't help noticing that they can be used both conveniently and effectively as anything ranging from blanket pegs to bookmarks, door stoppers, and even a bag hook.

One of them can even be utilized as a phone stand, which naturally comes in handy if you are looking to communicate with a person that you haven't seen in a while. Apps like Facetime and Skype can be used with ease if your smartphone is supported by one of these toys.

Fun

Attaching the Densters to your furniture is extremely simple because they are designed in such a way so as to minimize the effort on the part of the user. The fact that every little toy has its own name is a cute detail. For example, you can use the Grumpo as a door stopper, but the Cheekabo can be clamped onto chairs or shelves so as to hold your bag or anything else. The Snella is a perfect little surface sucker whereas the Hoopsta can be hooked around knobs, as well as curtains.

Safety

Since I'm always concerned with the safety of an item whenever I try to analyze its quality, it's worth noting here that these toys are made from BPA-free materials, so they pose no risk to kids in this respect.

Furthermore, their design does not include any risky parts that could be swallowed or on which children could cut themselves - there are no small parts or sharp edges. However, the manufacturing brand does recommend their use with kids older than 3, so you might want to consider that.

Educational purpose

Many studies have found that building forts and dens can be quite educational and the best thing about this type of activity is that it helps with the development of children's creative thinking. Naturally, your child will want to experiment with all sorts of materials to build as many structures as possible, so it might be a good idea to have several blankets ready after purchasing this set.

Durability

Although I personally haven't been able to find any info regarding the exact materials that these toys are made of, they have been deemed as durable and highly flexible, which is why they can be stretched and can put up with some serious abuse over time.

So there you have it. If you're in the market for a toy set that can stimulate your child's creativity and ingeniousness, the Densters Large Set might be a good choice.

Sunday, December 16, 2018

I know there's practically no chance of you reading this post, so let's just say that I'm journaling because I want to make myself feel better.

This year, I got to know you and then I lost you.
This year, I thought I found the perfect person.
This year, I thought I would drown in misery when we stopped talking.
This year, I realized that past mistakes can affect the future more than I'd ever imagined.

I went to a park yesterday. It was snowing heavily. I wanted to go to a bench where I used to sit in the spring when I wrote you every morning. I saw it, I even photographed it, and I considered sending you the picture, but just like in other past relationships, I know you might not even care about my feelings or how it felt when I looked at that bench. So empty, so drained of happiness, so drained of you.

I miss you more than I've ever missed anyone. I wish you'd know just how much you meant to me and how much you still do. It's so hard to give up hope after so many months of talking to you, of being close to you, of knowing you. Soon, it will be a year since we spoke for the first time, and I feel so sad that we don't do it anymore.

I'm trying to find things that give me pleasure so that I stop focusing on the pain. It's not a hedonistic approach. I'm probably trying to tell just what purpose I have in this life, because right now... it sure feels as if I have none. I work all the time as I always did, and I've managed to stay on top of everything in spite of the moments where I just stop, look at a fixed point, and think of you. It's like I can't get you out of my head and out of my soul, and it hurts so bad that I can't rid myself of you.

I know that time heals everything and I'm sure that I'll feel better after a while, but I still can't accept that I've lost the most amazing person I know. As much as I know I shouldn't, I desperately want to know how you've been and if you're well - and I don't even want to be in contact with you all the time, just... know if you're okay once in a while.

I care more about you than I care about myself, that's what's making it so hard for me to recover.

Friday, November 2, 2018

A week ago or so, I was notified by EasyDNS that my domain would expire. It's been three years and I have to say that I'm truly sorry about the way I managed this blog in the sense that while I started out enthusiastic and published fairly regularly, doing the same became impossible because of my job. I also felt rather disappointed that I didn't have the audience I was looking for, so basically - I quit before things would start to look up.

Because I am running out of ideas about what I could write here and because I don't feel particularly excited about publishing reviews of the host of books I read during the summer (of which many were Erotica), I'm going to do something I am fairly good at. I'm going to be publishing buying guides about all sorts of book-related things.

I've been working in affiliate marketing for over four years now and I have amassed a lot of experience in the field. I am not looking to overly monetize the site and I will not be reviewing any products that I haven't personally tried. I will, however, provide you with my personal advice on buying book-related stuff - both because I have bought so much myself over time, and because if I'm good at writing something, I'm definitely good at writing buying guides.

On occasion, I'll still publish excerpts from the non-fiction books I read (mostly for my job and for my personal development), and maybe I'll start writing some reviews, too. It's been just a couple of weeks, but I think I'm finally done with reading Erotica of any kind. I'm so over the cliches I find in these books and I honestly can't think of a good reason for which I read mostly books from this genre for almost a whole year. I did discover several interesting authors whose works I might return to in the future (Golden Angel being the one I love the most), but the rest of the books I read don't even deserve to be reviewed here, and I don't recommend them to anyone.

If you have taken the time to check out this blog every once in a while, thank you. If you've quit doing so, I understand.

2018 has been a really trying year for me in every way. Aside from my job, pretty much nothing went well this year. Fortunately, I still love what I do very much and I'm not really looking to do any changes on this account. Personally, 2018 was probably the most horrible year of my life. I've had to deal with several depression bouts, I even considered going to a therapist because I felt like crying all the time, and just last week, I had the most severe existential crisis of my life. I found it so hard to have a purpose and really understand what I was put on this Earth for... it's a feeling I can't even describe, but I felt incredibly lost.

Now that I am feeling just a little better and that I've realized that most people actually go through life without any purpose whatsoever and there's nothing wrong with that, I guess I'm beginning to be at peace with myself. I've always put so much pressure on myself, both while I was growing up and with regard to my personal relationships. Although I've been genuine with everyone, I'm starting to understand that people are selfish (just like I've been with some, over time) and sometimes, you just can't stop them from doing whatever they want. It's just how things are and it's not my place to change anyone's mind if they don't want to.

People make mistakes and so do I, but I'm definitely hoping I'll make fewer in the future. so, I'm being optimistic and it's like a filter that was covering my eyes for so many months has now lifted and I can finally see things as they are. The crap I read this year didn't do anything but idealize the way I looked at relationships. There are no perfect people and there won't ever be any.

My point is that I'm coming back. I'll probably get back to the schedule of posting four articles per month. I hope everyone who ends up here is happy and healthy and I'm wishing all the best to you, whether you're a reader or not.

1. Some of the greatest success stories of all time come from people who were misunderstood or even miscategorized. Maybe their strengths weren’t noticed or valued. Perhaps they got a slow start or went about things in an unusual manner. They somehow didn’t fit into the world’s narrow definition of what constitutes achievement or success. Here are just a few of them.

2. When baseball was going well, my life was going well. But as soon as one thing went wrong, it seemed as though other areas of my life started to fall apart at the seams. It was a snowball effect, a chain reaction. So I pushed hard to make sure that every aspect of the game was perfect. There was literally no room for error.

3. Getting cut from baseball was something I never saw coming. And looking back, I can see that it could’ve played out one of several ways. First possibility: I could have dropped out of college and spent my days lying around the house with my five lazy roommates, eating a sick amount of pizza and getting really good at the video game RBI Baseball.
My backup plan of moving back in with my parents and having my mom wash my tighty-whities didn’t sound so bad either. The passion had been knocked out of me, and there was seemingly nothing good that could fill its place. Another possibility would’ve been to suck it up and get a part-time job to occupy my time—just a random job that I didn’t care too much about but that paid the bills. Sure, it would have meant giving up on my dreams, but at this point I would’ve resigned myself to barely getting by.
This option involved zero risk, and there’s something really appealing about not rising again after being hurt so profoundly. And although it didn’t sound as good as playing Nintendo all day, at least it would get me out of the house. Another possibility would’ve been to use every instinct and skill I’d developed over the years, find a new passion, and then go for it. I’d get off of the couch and be okay with hanging up my cleats so that I could pursue something different. And even if this new direction was different from what I’d always dreamed about, I would refuse to quit. Sure, it took me a few months to get my head on straight, but I was resolved to figure this all out. I’m smart enough to know that when you put in the effort and find a new passion and get back on track, good things are bound to happen.
This last scenario is just about the way it turned out. I may have dipped my toes in options one and two, but option three was what all of those years prior had equipped me for. So instead of becoming chronically despondent or detached, I chose a different approach. It took everything inside of me to step up to the plate again, but I did it. And then I gave it all I had.

4. I believed the baseball field was the perfect place to train me as a baseball player, but it turned out to be the perfect training ground for life as an entrepreneur. That can be true for you too, no matter what your passion is. Every ounce of energy you invest in pursuing your goals will help you grow toward God’s plan for you . . . even if you end up somewhere you hadn’t counted on. I can’t promise you there won’t be any curveballs in your life. But I’m positive that if you do the hard work and never quit—and pick yourself up when things go sideways—good things will be waiting on the other side.

5. It’s just human nature for couples to turn their insecurities and animosities against each other during life’s more challenging seasons.
6. Juggling being co-workers along with being a married couple can feel like walking a tightrope at times. The hardest part for us is turning off the work side of things and focusing on us. We have to be really intentional to not talk about business all the time. For example, we have to choose not to discuss project lists, payroll, or an upcoming client on date night. When we get home at the end of the day, the business truly needs to be out of sight and out of mind; our babies and our marriage must be the only things in the world that matter. This has proven to be one of our biggest challenges and is definitely easier said than done.

7. It starts with being willing to be seen and known and loved for who you are, as you are. Then you have to be willing to turn around and do the same, loving your spouse in their totality: flaws, blemishes, and quirks included. It’s from there that you can begin to forge a trust where creativity and compassion can grow strong. Taking on the world as a unified, fortified duo is not just a romantic notion; it’s a powder keg. Together you can set the world on fire.

8. I’m still a huge advocate for trusting your instincts and taking leaps of faith when it matters. There are plenty of things worth rushing into the unknown for. But don’t be dumb. Save your courage for when it counts.

9. If I ever run for public office one day, there’s a good chance my stump speech will be about making it illegal to live in fear. The reason I’m so passionate about this topic is that fear will literally ruin every single facet of your life; it cripples everything. You know how hurt people hurt people? Well, scared people scare people. And thus, the cycle of fear continues on.
Fact: life isn’t safe. You could do A, B, and C all perfectly right, and then BAM! All of a sudden D will show up and D wasn’t even on the guest list.

10. A lot of people spend their days walking in fear of failure, pain or even death. But things like disease or war still find their way past triple-locked doors. No alarm system can keep these things away. And I just don’t see the point in putting energy into doing what isn’t possible in the first place.

11. For the rest of your days, you can live in fear of what could happen. You can walk instead of run, drive instead of fly, or leave the big city and move out to the suburbs. But you simply cannot protect yourself from the things beyond your control.
I don’t want to make this too depressing or anything, but right now, at this very minute…There are nuclear weapons being tested and chemical weapons being further developed while a quarter of humanity lives without electricity
There are more than a hundred different varieties of cancer, with many different causes, but no dependable cure.
There are more than one hundred fifty million orphans in the world, and nearly eight million children die of preventable diseases every year because they are too poor to afford treatment. Twenty-nine thousand kids under five years old die because of poverty every day.
You see where I’m going? If we let every potential threat out there dictate how we feel, there’s a decent chance we’ll all curl up into the fetal position and never leave the house. Sometimes too much information is immobilizing.

12. I vote that instead of fretting about the problems in this world, we all become part of the solutions. This happens through our willingness to make small, brave decisions. No one is born a hero. It takes a lifetime of courageous choices to get there. So quit dodging hard things. When you make the choice to duck left to avoid something scary, you could miss a beautiful opportunity on the right.

13. If you don’t ask out the girl (or guy), you risk ending up alone, too scared to pursue a relationship. If the thought of traveling to a foreign country terrifies you and you bow to that, you miss out on experiencing the big, exciting world that’s out there just waiting on you to discover it. Say you never apply for (or accept) a job that feels beyond your capabilities, but instead choose to stay in an easy, safe position that never requires you to grow, change, or build something that matters. That’s not just sad for you; it’s sad for the rest of us, because we need what you have to give.

14. The other thing about the presence of fear in the process of decision making is that it can severely cloud your judgment. Fear dressed up as wisdom provides poor counsel. It lures you into thinking that if you will just trust it, it will afford you some level of control. But guess what? You’re not in control. So I’m calling bull on that illusion. It’s time for a wake-up call. Maybe a little cold water in the face couldn’t hurt. Life isn’t safe, remember. But life can be wonderful if you choose adventure rather than fear.

15. There’s a scene in this movie that I watched with the kids, We Bought a Zoo, where the dad gives his son an amazing piece of advice. This is the direct quote. I know because I made Ella get up and pause the movie so I could write it down. Then I played it back a second time: “Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage.
Just, literally 20 seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.” That’s it. That’s the stuff. Each time you muster up what it takes and go for it, the next go-round becomes that much easier. Real and important changes begin with small, courageous acts. It’s never too late in your story to take a step away from fear. And the good news is that both optimism and courage are contagious. No hand washing necessary. Simply catch and spread.

16. Nobody remembers if you cross the finish line bruised and bloody. They just remember that you stayed the course. Don’t get hung up on how ugly the race may have looked. In the end, all that matters is that you finish.

17. Listen to me here: if you’re going to make a bet, bet on yourself. Of course you won’t always win. Life doesn’t work that way. But if you don’t at least try, how could you ever know what’s on the other side?

18. I’m a firm believer that figuring things out on your own is more effective than being given something on a silver platter. And that belief is at the heart of my personal leadership strategy. I expect our team to dive in headfirst. They don’t have time to doggie-paddle. We pride ourselves in on-the-job training and solving problems. I like people who work first and ask questions later. As soon as I get a sense that they’re sitting back in their comfort zone, avoiding a challenge, I push them off the ledge. That may sound harsh, but people who know my heart understand my intentions behind this. I’ve got a different take on the whole concept of sink or swim. In my opinion, you win either way. If you swim, that means you’re capable. If you sink, that simply means you need more practice. It’s less of an ‘if you don’t make it, you aren’t good enough’ mindset and more of an opportunity to truly assess where you are and what you still need to work on.

19. (...) if you want to do well in your work, don’t get caught up in the job-title mentality. Let your work speak for itself rather than relying on some title that someone else gave you or confining yourself to a simple job description. It’s just so easy to let that title box you in. If you’re low man on the totem pole and your title hints at that, then you may put yourself in that box rather than think of ways to go above and beyond, exceeding every expectation. On the other hand, if you’re a head honcho with a big title, then you’re likely to rest on it. You may settle in and get comfortable. And that’s exactly what you don’t want if you really want to grow professionally.

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